the game's not worth the candle

2

The potential advantages to be gained from doing something do not justify the cost or trouble involved:she may decide the game’s not worth the candle and walk away from the discussionsthey may find that aggressive expansion is not worth the candle

Origen

Old English candel came from Latin candela, from candere ‘to be white, shine, glisten’ ( compare candid). From the same source comes chandelier (mid 18th century) from Old French chandelier which also gave Middle English chandler, originally a candle maker or seller. A person who cannot hold a candle to someone else is nowhere near as good as them. In the past an assistant might stand next to his superior with a candle to provide light to work by, and so the idea of holding a candle to someone became synonymous with helping them as a subordinate or in a menial way. Not worth the candle originated as a translation of the French phrase le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle, ‘the game is not worth the candle’. The ‘game’ was a game of cards involving betting, and would not be worth playing if the expense of candles to provide light was more than the expected winnings.